LETTER: Where's the 'grand' in today's Grand Old Party?

What happened to the "grand" in the Grand Old Party? Lincoln's party was indeed grand, but if Abraham Lincoln was a Republican candidate for office today, he probably would not survive a primary election. Today's Republicans would probably oppose everything Lincoln's party promoted. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his father were Republicans. Neither of them would probably support some of the things modern Republicans stand for today. From 1865 to 1928, most blacks voted for Republicans. What changed?

Lincoln's vice president, Andrew Johnson, a Democrat, became president and vetoed legislation that benefited ex-slaves. The "Radical Republicans" in Congress overrode his vetoes and fought for full implementation of equal rights for African-Americans. Under President Johnson's reconstruction plan, Southern states were allowed to quasi re-enslave citizens with "Black Code" laws, even after 600,000 people died in a war to set free and save the Union.

The Radical Republicans, a faction in the party from about 1854 onward who strongly opposed slavery and emphasized civil rights and voting rights, fought against those laws that promoted second-class citizenship or no citizenship for ex-slaves. Yet modern Republicans continue to promote and support laws that deny full citizenship to some.

That was the "grand" part of the Republican Party, but there is another faction within the party today known as the "tea party," and this part also appears to be "radical." It appears the tea party has pushed the GOP further from center than many approve. Leaders celebrated passing legislation to defund health care, announcing their action speaks for the American people. They forget that only a couple hundred voted on that bill but the real American vote was at the polls when millions voted to support President Obama and his health plan.

When will the "grand" in the Grand Old Party reappear in American politics?

Pastor Jerry G. Jerkins

Clarksville 37040

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LETTER: Where's the 'grand' in today's Grand Old Party?

What happened to the 'grand' in the Grand Old Party? Lincoln's party was indeed grand, but if Abraham Lincoln was a Republican candidate for office today, he probably would not survive a primary